Osteoarthritis

The societal cost of total lifetime opioid use in patients with knee osteoarthritis is approximately $14 billion, nearly half of which is due to lost work productivity, diversion and criminal justice costs, according to data.

Long-term results showed computer-assisted surgery used in 1,048 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty was associated with average alignment of 1.52° varus and Kaplan-Meier survivorship of 98.34%, a presenter said.

Among patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis, NSAID use was associated with an increased loss of medial minimum joint space width compared with other medications, according to data published in Rheumatology.

High-intensity strength training failed to significantly reduce knee pain, or knee joint compressive forces, at 18 months when compared to low-intensity regimens or attention control in patients with osteoarthritis, according to data.

Grip, key and tip pinch strength was reduced during 6-year follow-up in patients with carpometacarpal joint changes, osteoarthritis and volar beak recession, results presented at the Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting showed.

Antidepressants are mostly ineffective for treating back pain, but may be beneficial for osteoarthritis and sciatica, according to data published in BMJ.

Researchers studying a Belgian cohort of patients with hand osteoarthritis observed evidence of radiological progression over 2 years even without clinical worsening, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Contrary to a hypothesis by a group of researchers, data show patients who wore stable, supportive shoes while walking experienced greater improvements in their knee osteoarthritis pain compared with those who wore flat, flexible shoes.

Clinical trials for drugs intended to treat the underlying disease process of osteoarthritis will require larger sample sizes and longer durations than previously seen, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Adding the antidepressant duloxetine to usual care for knee osteoarthritis with moderate pain, regardless of any depression screening or symptoms, is cost effective, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.